Details on the 10th Annual International Tap Festival
The announcement we've been waiting for!
Our 10th Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival is warming up in the wings and will share the stage with an equally exciting, "Rising Tide: Canadians in Tap Conference."
We're thrilled to announce the celebration of our landmark 10th anniversary by sharing with you some of the highlights of the best-ever Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival, September 4th to 6th.
As well, a ground-breaking forum - "Rising Tide: Canadians in Tap Conference" -Sept. 1, 2, 3 will take place over the three days leading up to the festival. Heather Cornell and William Orlowski will fuse their accomplished tap dance lens with the national perspective of our keynote speaker Veronica Tennant, one of Canada's most prominent dancers. This unique and historic event will be packed with valuable resources and discussion. And all 3 days will be free of charge! More detailed information on the festival and conference supported by Canada Council for the Arts is coming very soon
For now, good news for dancers - our festival faculty lineup for 2009 includes: Dr. Jeni LeGon, Arthur Duncan, Dianne Walker, Heather Cornell, Lane Alexander, Gene Medler, Terry Brock, Lisa LaTouche, Tasha Lawson, Travis Knights, Matt Shields, Jason Janas, Johnson & Peters, Danny Neilson and more.
First, thank you to everyone who completed the recent festival survey. We heard what you had to say and your suggestions will be reflected in our 2009 festival. As you know, many people have contributed to our remarkable success over the past nine years. And some of these key people are delighted to have been invited back this year. As well, we've added exciting new faces, programs and venues.
For example: a performance has been scheduled at the Cellar Jazz Club; a presentation is being held at the Vancouver Public Library, and the festival tap concert has been moved to Saturday night (from Monday afternoon).
A few highlights of the festival: A special "Sping" choreography project with Dr. LeGon (assisted by Mika Komatsu) will be premiered in a 3-day workshop; among many other accomplishments, Jeni co-wrote the song "Sping," sung by Lena Horne in "Panama Hattie," and danced by the Barry Bros.
Terry will pay homage to the late Dr. Cholly Atkins, whose final professional commitment was our festival. There will be lots of R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Cholly's legendary vocal choreography. And "Lady Di" - the only artist to have attended all 10 of our festivals - will be front and centre with a Leon Collins Residency (9 hours), "Routine 53".
Lane Alexander, producer, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, returns to share his classic approach with us.
New faces to the festival include: Arthur Duncan, an icon who will help mark our 10th anniversary. We're delighted to have this tap master and debonair gentleman in our midst. The program will include the technical prowess and teaching insights of Gene Medler. There is so much more.....stay tuned!
"Rising Tide: Canadians in Tap Conference" will be a first gathering of our national tap dance community, designed for everyone who has a passion for the art form. Its purpose is to inspire a more enlightened awareness of where we are today and what can be done to create more performance opportunities and recognition for artists, teachers and choreographers.
We've all had many rushed and unfinished conversations at festivals, gigs, rehearsals, over the phone and by e-mail. There is always so much to share, but so little time. That's why we are staging this very special forum. Its September 1st to 3rd. Mark the dates down. This is your opportunity to help build an exciting new national dance movement: Tap in Canada!
Please join us in Vancouver to take part in this VTDS celebration and an amazing gathering of artists. Once again, the 10th Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival is from September 4th to the 6th.
So You Think You Can Flap - Summer Intensive Tap Boot Camp
children with tap experience 10-16 years old
Download the flyer here
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